Often times random people will ask me if I ever get lonely
traveling the state of Colorado. To tell you the truth, the answer is: not
really. Why? It’s simple. I make new friends everywhere I go.

I’ve traveled a good chunk of Colorado. Judging by the map on my desk that I
fill in with a red marker after each new adventure, I’ve probably traveled 80%
of the state.

I love living in Denver and I truly love the city, but I’m a small town guy. I
grew up on a farm in Northern New York and I absolutely love rural life.

Every time I visit a small town for work or for fun there’s always at least one
or two people I’ll stop to see.

For example: I always make it a point to stop at Mason’s BBQ in Fairplay to see
my friend Criselda. I stopped at Criselda’s BBQ joint on my way to a story once
– and found myself coming back for more! I ended up doing a story with Criselda
once when the town of Fairplay held a rain dance in 2012.

Every time I’m in the San Luis Valley I stop in Hooper to see another friend,
Judy Messoline. Judy runs the UFO Watch Tower. I did a feature story on her a
few years back. I’m a huge UFO/Sci-Fi geek, so Judy and I clicked instantly. I
try and swing by the tower to see Judy at least 3 times a year now.

There was an old anchorman in Denver who once said, “That’s the best thing about my job. Wherever I go, I
have friends that I just haven’t met yet.”

I love that quote. And I couldn’t agree more with it.

I spend a lot of time in hotel rooms, diners, coffee shops and a handful of
other random places to produce stories. In fact, while I write this it’s
midnight in Snowmass at the Westin Hotel.

Lonely? Not really. Looking forward to meeting new friends down Colorado’s
back country roads tomorrow :-)